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Monday, August 25, 2014

Review: Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

Before
she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie
will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on
the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers
like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St.
Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and
religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but
sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and
herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new
surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction
threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous
world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference
between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her
lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every
corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but
falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s
willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to
be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

My Rating

4

My Review

Fans of historical fiction, look no further, as Queen of
Someday is a wonderful YA read that has just about everything readers
could ask for. It's impossible to put down, and I loved just about every
minute.

Characters are always important in stories with a basis in
history, especially if they actually existed in real life. I loved how
the characters were really brought to life in the novel with believable
personalities. It's hard to imagine one of Russia's greatest rulers as a
teenage girl, but Ficklin crafted Sophie incredibly well. As I reader, I
really felt I saw her grow as a character, and begin to shape into the
woman she is sure to become. It's exciting not only to have such a
strong female protagonist, but a strong female protagonist based greatly
on a real woman in history. Plus, we don't have enough politically
ambitious protagonists in YA. Whether you'd get along with a
power-hungry lead or not, it sure makes them interesting.

Being as the novel does have a historical basis, it seems a
bit odd to rave about the plot, as the plot is...well, history.
However, a large part of the novel still is fictional, and even if it
weren't, I'd talk about the plot anyway because I enjoy it that much.
There wasn't a dull moment, and I was fully invested with every new
twist. And I can't even remember the last time I loved an ending so
much. (Because I really, really loved the ending.)

If there's anything I enjoyed almost as much as the ending,
it's the relationship between characters. The interwoven dealings and
changes were fantastic to read about, and I couldn't get enough. All of
the characters really brought something to the story. For example,
Sergei gives readers a real reason to swoon. (Among other things, of
course.)

Although some of the dialogue felt a bit forced, especially
in the "love interest" scenes, it never really got in the way of my
reading experience. Plus, that was more so a rare occurrence.

Queen of Someday really has a little bit of everything.
Action, betrayal, forbidden romance, twists...and a bunch of other
lovely things I'm forgetting to mention. I highly recommend, and cannot
wait to get my hands on the second book of the series.